A total of 75 grossly obese patients were admitted to hospital for 80 episodes of prolonged starvation. Five took their own discharge within two weeks of admission and 12 defaulted from follow-up within 12 months of discharge. The others were all followed up for periods of 12 to 64 months. Altogether 39 episodes in 34 patients were classified as failures, eight as modified successes, and 16 as successes, though five of the latter patients subsequently defaulted. Success was associated with regular follow-up attendance but could not be otherwise predicted. A number of patients obtained tangible benefit from starvation despite a subsequent gain in weight.